Tell us the ways to beat fast pass+

[itchin2go]

A poster on a diff thread said to purchase another set of tickets. Now I like rides just as much as the next person but can't fathom spending that much money for just 3 more FP+s. Now if it were for unlimited FP+, I might feel differently!

Not that I'm considering this, but how would it work? I'm assuming (maybe wrongly) that you have to use your ticket to get into the park before booking same day FP+. Would you have to enter the park using one ticket, book FP+, and then leave and enter again using a different ticket? Just idle wondering, I guess.

Can't we all just love one another?

Exactly. There was one careless adjective thrown out. Hardly a reason to hijack a whole thread (the actual subject matter of which I'm very interested in).

 

[kapoof]

I am a rope dropper, up at 5:00 a.m. Primed and ready...I guess I could be considered lazy also because bedtime is between 9:30-10:00.

 

[wisblue]

My biggest concern about the new system is the amount of advance research a first time visitor will have to do. I am an over planner (out of excitement) but even so when I went to Disneyland I did play it by ear a bit and collected fast passes when a ride looked like it was necessary. If I have never been on the wdw rides how am I going to know which ones are best to use the fast passes for and which ones am I going to be more likely to enjoy without a lot of research. I enjoy planning but sometimes it is fun to just get on a ride and know nothing about it whereas my next step in planning my first wdw trip is going to have to be researching which rides I want to use fp+ for.

How would it be better for first time visitors with paper FP?

If you have never been to WDW before and do no research, you aren't going to know what to get FPs for either and, by the time you figure it out, those FPs may be gone for the day or have a return time that doesn't work for your schedule.

First time visitors should be some of the biggest winners with FP+ if they are willing to do a minimum of research and planning. Any first time visitor who did no research, or just did a little, wasn't going to be maximizing the paper FP system like the veterans on this board could. If they didn't arrive early enough, they may not have gotten any FP for the most popular attractions at all.

With FP+, if someone at least scans through the list of attractions, identifies 3 they would like to do, and makes reservations for them, they will be guaranteed at least those things. If it turns out that they made what veterans would consider "wasted" choices", they are still no worse off than they would have been otherwise.

 

[Pinnochio]

Because to us, it's not about the rides. It's about detoxing from work and obligations of our daily lives. There have been many days we've gone to a Disney park and have not ridden any rides or maybe just one or two. To us, walking around World Showcase is the perfect afternoon and we could do that three or four times and be extremely content.


Could not have said it any better!!

 

[mediamark]

What an ignorant post. Just because one doesn't make it to rope drop they are considered "lazy"? Your definition of "vacation" might be waking up at the crack of dawn and riding as many rides as possible while inconveniencing your family . MY idea of a vacation is for the whole family to relax and enjoy the atmosphere...So please don't make the ignorant statement that whoever doesn't make the rope drop is "lazy".........

First of all, I was using the term "lazy" based off the original post in this thread.
Second, what's wrong with being lazy? Some people's idea of vacation is to be lazy. I'm not using it as a negative term, or at least I didn't intend for it to be taken that way.
Third, my family wanted to ride as many rides as possible so how is getting up early an inconvenience to them when we were able to go on nearly a dozen attractions in the first 3 hours of park opening? They quite enjoyed their time thank you.
Fourth, take a deep breath and smile. If I'm really that ignorant then you must be an exceptional human being because I think I'm a pretty good guy myself.

 

[mjallemand]

I wrote this after our Thanksgiving trip and think it's pretty accurate:

Vacation at a slow time of year like September and first part of November. Be very selective about the time you vacation. Pull kids out of school to get the most bang for your buck.

Last week of January for us. Slowest time of the year that isn't in ridiculous heat.

 

[999DoomBuggies]

What about this: So what is going on with the fastpasses? I don't know if there's an actual answer in this thread about this question. I was wondering this exact same thing and haven't got an answer from the CM's. They ALL give me different answers from there's no such thing as rider's switch pass to just swapping the child at the entrance. no pass needed! I've really stressed myself out with this and I'm going to ask here again!! Are you able to have parent A make a fastpass selection for an attraction, and the other parentB receive a rider's swap pass for the same attraction while parent B makes another choice and do the same thing (get rider's pass)?? EX. Parent A gets fastpass for soarin, Parent B gets rider's swap pass for soarin, Parent B gets fastpass for test track, parent A gets a rider's swap pass for test track??

Fantastic question and this is the type of stuff this thread is looking for...

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Fantastic question and this is the type of stuff this thread is looking for...

That question was answered in a different thread, and the answer was yes - you only need a single FP+ for rider swap, so parents with young children who do not mind riding separately can leverage this.

BTW, that is also how it was with FP-, so this is not a change.

 

[Andyman33]

What about this: So what is going on with the fastpasses? I don't know if there's an actual answer in this thread about this question. I was wondering this exact same thing and haven't got an answer from the CM's. They ALL give me different answers from there's no such thing as rider's switch pass to just swapping the child at the entrance. no pass needed! I've really stressed myself out with this and I'm going to ask here again!! Are you able to have parent A make a fastpass selection for an attraction, and the other parentB receive a rider's swap pass for the same attraction while parent B makes another choice and do the same thing (get rider's pass)?? EX. Parent A gets fastpass for soarin, Parent B gets rider's swap pass for soarin, Parent B gets fastpass for test track, parent A gets a rider's swap pass for test track??

With the old fStpass system that is exactly what we would do. Part of the group would use paper fastpass the other part would use rider switch. It would allow us to have more fast passes at once and open faster. Sounds like there is mixed info out there with fastpass + but the only way they could change it is if they require all but one person to still have fastpass to use the rider switch. Otherwise the rider switch is useless...

 

[harbin]

We are not RD people. Coming from the West Coast, the time difference just kills us. With a 7 and 3 year old, dragging them out of bed that early just makes everyone miserable. Having said that, do you think that would make Park hoppers not worth it for us? Plan as of right now is Spring Break trip, 9 days in WDW, with two minimal park time/rest days. Will be scheduling FP+ at later times in the day at what ever park we decide to be in that day according to crowd calendars. Most days have breakfast ressies at 9, so earliest time at park would be 11.... and will stay late in evening. Should we drop park hoppers, plan on FP+ during evening times only... and take our chance on standby lines at another park after breakfast? What exactly is the best plan for the non rope droppers/night owls?

 

[sharadoc]

Can I be the guy that says people trying to [beat | abuse | uberuse | work | make-the-most-of] the FP system is why we now have FP+?

I mean, are you trying to get WDW to move on to FP++ already?

Exactly. My beef is with people who have to do and ride everything multiple times a day. In some ways, I like the FP+ idea of spreading people out, essentially making them do everything rather than run from one headliner to another. Why is one ride on TSMM or SM not enough? I can't imagine the learning curve of a new visitor hitting Disney now.

Us "lazy" people like to enjoy our resort, swim, play miniature golf, see the shows, listen to the Dapper Dans or Bob and the Banjo Brothers, or Jammitors. If you only have 3 FP+, then you'll be forced to do that too. It's not a bad way to enjoy a visit to Disney World and a lot less stress.

My argument is against the tiering. If I choose to use my FP+ on the same ride, I should be able to. God forbid, don't make me take one for Figment. That's ridiculous.

 

[sharadoc]

Last week of January for us. Slowest time of the year that isn't in ridiculous heat.

Absolutely perfect time of year. Just make sure you bring some warm clothes in case it gets cold, which it can.

 

[mediamark]

Absolutely perfect time of year. Just make sure you bring some warm clothes in case it gets cold, which it can.

We were at MK this past Saturday (1/18) and the high was about 57 and by the time we left at 12:30 AM the temp was 29. By Tuesday we were in the mid 70's. Definitely plan for all kinds of weather.

 

[mickeyinthehouse]

1) I don't know whether the magic bands will work if they haven't been scanned at the park entrance (I think it would depend on whether Disney has already thought of this). If they did, you could probably just enter the park with your first band, walk right back out (do you scan MBs on the way out? probably not), and re-enter the park with your second set.

It looks like you do have to scan the band at the entrance for it to work. I'm basing this on a trip report where people spent the night in the castle and subsequently figured out that their magic bands would not work at the fp machines when they had already scheduled fp+. They had to explain to the CM that they had not entered the park with the bands since they spent the night there.

 

[ArwenMarie]

1) I don't know whether the magic bands will work if they haven't been scanned at the park entrance (I think it would depend on whether Disney has already thought of this). If they did, you could probably just enter the park with your first band, walk right back out (do you scan MBs on the way out? probably not), and re-enter the park with your second set.

It looks like you do have to scan the band at the entrance for it to work. I'm basing this on a trip report where people spent the night in the castle and subsequently figured out that their magic bands would not work at the fp machines when they had already scheduled fp+. They had to explain to the CM that they had not entered the park with the bands since they spent the night there.

That makes sense. If that wasn't true, you could also just give someone your MB with the FPs on it. Local APs could rent out their loaded-up bands as well.

 

[magicbob]

Exactly. My beef is with people who have to do and ride everything multiple times a day. In some ways, I like the FP+ idea of spreading people out, essentially making them do everything rather than run from one headliner to another. Why is one ride on TSMM or SM not enough? I can't imagine the learning curve of a new visitor hitting Disney now.

Us "lazy" people like to enjoy our resort, swim, play miniature golf, see the shows, listen to the Dapper Dans or Bob and the Banjo Brothers, or Jammitors. If you only have 3 FP+, then you'll be forced to do that too. It's not a bad way to enjoy a visit to Disney World and a lot less stress.

My argument is against the tiering. If I choose to use my FP+ on the same ride, I should be able to. God forbid, don't make me take one for Figment. That's ridiculous.

You've swerved into the root of what many people dislike about FP+. People don't want to be forced into specific "accepted" activities. Maybe I could care less about the Dapper Dans. Why should I have to endure them instead of riding the ride I want to? Why is one ride not enough? Maybe it is, maybe it isn't... but that should be for ME to decide. If I want to spend ALL DAY riding Carousel of Progress over and over, then that should be my choice.

For the record, I would just as soon see shows instead of riding things multiple times, but it is the principle of the matter. If you take this reasoning to its logical conclusion, the Magicbands should be changed to ankle bracelets and if you try to ride something twice (even in standby), you should be denied entrance. Because, after all, the ride has limited capacity and riding twice (even if I stood in line both times) prevented someone else from being able to ride it once.

 

[FireDancer]

Can I be the guy that says people trying to [beat | abuse | uberuse | work | make-the-most-of] the FP system is why we now have FP+?

I mean, are you trying to get WDW to move on to FP++ already?

And hopefully Disney pays attention and closes any of the loopholes that come put. That is one of the big advantages of FP+ over Legacy FastPass. They can automate enforcement and not rely on the CMs to selectively enforce policy like return times.

 

[magicbob]

And hopefully Disney pays attention and closes any of the loopholes that come put. That is one of the big advantages of FP+ over Legacy FastPass. They can automate enforcement and not rely on the CMs to selectively enforce policy like return times.

Except that they've created the biggest loophole/CM judgment call of all time. Are they going to adopt a "zero tolerance" or "no excuses" policy if you get a blue Mickey? There are already reports of people claiming they have a FP+ when they don't and they're being let through. With paper FP, you had a physical ticket in your hand or you didn't. There's no way to prove your claim that it must be a "glitch." Disney has a history of appeasing guests when it comes to issues like this, so my guess is that the new "abuse strategy" will be to ride everything using FP+s that you don't actually have reserved. Please understand that I am NOT condoning or suggesting this! Merely predicting that it will occur. Mark my words.

 

[Sammie]

In time...loopholes will be found. I am sure some will be put on here. Others will not. You already seen jokes? about lining cast members handshakes/pockets with money, hiring out babies, etc. There was such buzz about when GAC was changed over to DAS, it now looks like it has turned back into a major advantage and will no doubt continue to get abused. I know of someone who goes to Disney multiple times a year who scams it all the time, they are not worried. They will find a way, they always do

I do however look forward to some of the legitimate ways to get the most out of Disney that are usually learned on here!

That is so very sad. That the only way someone can go and enjoy it, is to scam a system that is there to help those less fortunate. Very, very sad.

 

[999DoomBuggies]

And hopefully Disney pays attention and closes any of the loopholes that come put. That is one of the big advantages of FP+ over Legacy FastPass. They can automate enforcement and not rely on the CMs to selectively enforce policy like return times.

So ridiculous. The fast pass minus is so much better if your a hustler and want to ride as many rides as possible during your visit. If you don't feel like riding a bunch of rides then don't hustle but please do not try to make some sort of sad socialist experience at disney parks.